2001 Disney Teacher of the Year
Ron Clark
Here is Ron Clark, standing on a couple chairs, telling us about his trip to South Africa with 15 students.
     On October 2, 2004, I had the chance to meet and listen to the New York Times bestselling author Ron Clark at a conference in Charlotte. His bestselling book, The Essential 55, offers a helpful guide filled with everything parents and teachers need to help our children succeed in school. He writes, �What we are aiming for is to raise students who are not only brilliant but who are also respectful, well-mannered, and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. That is the key not only to raising kids, but also to improving our communities and the state of education in America.�

      After reading The Essential 55 last Fall, I was immediately impressed with his 55 rules that helped give students a guideline on how to become a better student. For example, Rule #9 � It is appropriate for your child to always say �thank you� when the teacher gives him something. There is no excuse for not showing appreciation. I was also impressed with the life-changing success stories of the students he has taught in a rural, coastal school in North Carolina and in a Harlem, New York school.  

      Ron Clark�s passion and energy is contagious. Seeing him in person, with all his animation and enthusiasm, made it simple for me to believe in him and his ability to make a difference in the students he teaches. He encouraged us to be passionate and to believe in our dreams. He simply epitomizes what I believe all teachers strive for. Every teacher wants to make a difference in the lives of the children we teach. We want to provide opportunities for growth and for learning to occur. We want our children to dream. We want to inspire them to reach out for those goals and go, go, go until those goals become a reality.

      I have found a renewed inspiration myself after meeting and listening to Ron Clark. I know he is anxious to get back into the classroom, but I would like to thank him for his advice and for his contagious passion for teaching.
Ron Clark signing one of his many books.
Although I did catch him off guard.
click here for Ron Clark's webpage
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